Thou shalt
thou shalt not
thou shalt not kill thy mother,
when she is ninety-six.
Thou shalt not tell people
on her ninety-fourth birthday
that thou needest her money and never expected
to have to wait so long.
Thou shalt not run up to thy friends
a few days ahead of time and say,
with the squeal of a child receiving a gift,
My mother is dying.
Thou shalt not fail to bring water
to a woman who is too weak to rise,
nor shalt thou press a pillow against her face,
nor allow thine husband to do so,
nor hide behind a coroner
who does not autopsy the old.
Nor shalt thou say afterwards,
Her passing was so peaceful;
when she stopped breathing, a bird sang.
Thou shalt not forget that thy daughter
suspects what thou hast done,
nor that she might do unto thee
as thou hast done unto thy mother.
Nor shalt thou be surprised if friends say,
What’s wrong with you lately?
You seem angry and spooked.
Thou shalt
thou shalt not
thou shalt never be able
to pray thy guilt gone.
